Have you ever written a letter to someone but never mailed it? You, know...just getting the words off your chest was enough? These are the unmailed letters of moi...

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Thirteen Books I have read and loved

Well, I know that I am a day late but I wanted to post anyhow...or I will just make it look like I did it on Thursday and then totally blow my cover by telling you. So here goes...

So those of you who know me know that I am somewhat of a reading enthusiast so for this week my thirteen is 13 books I have read this year that I really enjoyed...

1. The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory ****Synopsis:Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: the love of a kingWhen Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her familys ambitious plots as the kings interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.

2. The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks *****Synopsis:From the #1 New York Times bestselling author and America's favorite chronicler of love stories comes a riveting tale of romance and suspense.

3. The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman *****Synopsis:In this study, Dr. Chapman reveals how different people express love in different ways. What speaks love to you may be meaningless to your spouse. This study contains the key to understanding each other's unique needs. Apply the right principles, learn the right language, and soon you'll know the profound satisfaction and joy of being able to express your love-and feeling truly loved in return.

4. Atonement by Ian McEwan ****Synopsis:Set in 1935 England, this "New York Times" bestseller is enthralling in its depiction of childhood, love and war, England and class, making it a profound--and profoundly moving--exploration of shame and forgiveness, of atonement and the difficulty of absolution.

5. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert ***

Synopsis:

The celebrated author of The Last American Man creates an irresistible, candid, and eloquent account of her pursuit of worldly pleasure and spiritual devotion.

6. The Other Woman by Jane Green ***Synopsis:Jane Green's bestselling novels are rich with wry, clever insights into the romantic lives of her idiosyncratic heroines, winning them a devoted fan base.If opposites attract, Ellie Dan are perfect for each other. She's impulsive; he follows all the rules. Ellie is a virtual orphan, whereas Dan's family is as close-knit as they come. At first, Ellie is thrilled to be accepted into the Cooper clan and embraces Dan's mom, Linda, as the mother she never had-until she beings to realize that Linda's "mothering" is far more intrusive than even the best daughter-in-law can handle. What can Dan and this mother possibly have to talk about on the phone twice a day? And how has the intimate civil ceremony Ellie always dreamed of turned into a black-tie affair that would rival a royal wedding? Suddenly, Ellie finds herself wondering if it's possible to get an annulment-from Linda.A hilarious yet touching look at mothers-in-law and what they teach us about ourselves, The Other Woman is a brilliant hit from a novelist whose star just continues to rise.

7. The Choice by Nicholas Sparks ****Synosis:Travis Parker has everything a man could want: a good job, loyal friends, even a waterfront home in small-town North Carolina. In full pursuit of the good life-- boating, swimming, and regular barbecues with his good-natured buddies--he holds the vague conviction that a serious relationship with a woman would only cramp his style. That is, until Gabby Holland moves in next door. Despite his attempts to be neighborly, the appealing redhead seems to have a chip on her shoulder about him . . . and the presence of her longtime boyfriend doesn't help. Despite himself, Travis can't stop trying to ingratiate himself with his new neighbor, and his persistent efforts lead them both to the doorstep of a journey that neither could have foreseen. Spanning the eventful years of young love, marriage and family, The Choice ultimately confronts us with the most heart wrenching question of all: how far would you go to keep the hope of love alive?

8. Goodnight Nobody by Jennifer Weiner **Synopsis:For Kate Klein, suburbia's been full of unpleasant surprises. Her once-loving husband is hardly ever home. The supermommies on the playground routinely snub her. So when a fellow mother is murdered, Kate finds that the unsolved mystery is one of the most interesting things to happen in Upchurch. She launches an unofficial investigation with the help of two friends and discovers the secrets and lies behind the town's placid picket-fence façade -- and the choices and compromises all modern women make as they navigate between independence and obligation, small towns and big cities, being a mother and having a life of one's own.

9. The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling ****Synopsis:Orphaned as a baby, Harry Potter has spent 11 awful years living with his mean aunt, uncle, and cousin Dudley. But everything changes for Harry when an owl delivers a mysterious letter inviting him to attend a school for wizards. At this special school, Harry finds friends, aerial sports, and magic in everything from classes to meals, as well as a great destiny that's been waiting for him...if Harry can survive the encounter. From an author who has been compared to C. S. Lewis and Roald Dahl, this enchanting, funny debut novel won England's National Book Award and the prestigious Smarties Prize10. The Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling ****Synopsis:The eagerly anticipated sequel to the astounding smash hit Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is finally here! No need to wait — Harry's back for his second year at Hogwarts, where the infamous Chamber of Secrets has been opened for the first time in 50 years. The monster that is unleashed is literally petrifying Hogwarts students (turning them into stone, that is), and who is the primary suspect? Harry Potter himself. Add to this some enormous spiders, a Deathday Party, a ghost named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and lots and lots of suspense, and you'll soon find yourself engrossed in another terrific tale in which magic does exist and good eventually triumphs over evil.

11. If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern **Synopsis:

Elizabeth Egan's life runs on order: Both her home and her emotions are arranged just so, with little room for spontaneity. It's how she counteracts the chaos of her family -- an alcoholic mother who left when she was young, an emotionally distant father, and a free-spirited sister, who seems to be following in their mother's footsteps, leaving her own six-year old son, Luke, in Elizabeth's care. When Ivan, Luke's mysterious new grown-up friend, enters the picture, Elizabeth doesn't know quite what to make of him. With his penchant for adventure and colorful take on things large and small, Ivan opens Elizabeth's eyes to a whole new way of living. But is it for real? Is Ivan for real?

12. Old Friends and New Fancies by Sybil G. Brinton ****Synopsis:Originally published in 1914, this charming and original sequel to the novels of Jane Austen intertwines the lives of the most beloved characters from all six Austen novels with new characters of the author's devising. Inventive matchmaking leads numerous pairs of lovers through the inevitable (and entertaining) difficulties they must encounter before they are united in the end. Old Friends and New Fancies is a gratifying read for any Jane Austen enthusiast.13. Revenge of the Rose by Nicole Galland ****Synopsis:Transporting the reader to the brilliant, conniving heart of the largest empire of medieval Europe, Revenge of the Rose is a novel rich in irony and tongue-in-cheek wit, and reveals all the grit and color, politics and passion, of court life in the Holy Roman Empire.All Synopsis are from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ as they can give you an informativeoverview or blurb of the book while I would ruin the story completely.The rating system is my own. The more stars the more I loved the book and recommendit to others out there. The books are greatly varied as I like to read all kinds of things from Historical Fiction, Classical, Non-Fiction, and Mystery, plus a few of those girly summer by the beach books. Enjoy!

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